In September of 2023, Oxfam received funding from NORAD to implement the ‘Combating food insecurity ‘project in the refugee-hosting districts of Terego and Zombo in collaboration with locally based partners.
Through its partners, Youth Social Advocacy Team (YSAT), International Foundation for Recovery and Development (IFRAD) and Agency for Community Empowerment (AFCE), the project sought to improve food security through increased access and availability of nutritious food for most vulnerable households
Asili Amazu’s story
Geoffrey Asili Amazu, and his wife Dorish reside in Aligoi village, Ombokoro parish in Odupi subcounty, were some of the participants that received kuroiler birds and maize bran (feeds) to support their poultry keeping.
“We got five Kuroiler birds, and also trained on how to keep the birds, how to feed them, clean the poultry pens and also identify and treat bird diseases,” says Amazu.
Kuroiler birds are a popular dual-purpose breed of chicken known for their meat-producing capabilities and their egg-laying. This makes them a farmer favourite in different parts of the world, like the case of Amazu. He credits the kuroiler birds for improving his household income.
“Previously, the birds we have used to lay eggs were smaller and cost Ugx 200, but with Kuroiler birds, we get Ugx 400-500 per egg. This price difference is also seen in the sale of the birds with an adult Kuroiler bird weighing over 5 kilograms and going for twice the cost of the local birds,” he says.
Beyond the monetary value of the eggs and birds, Amazu’s wife, Doris, credits the birds for improving the nutrition in their household by providing eggs.
Amazu is a member of the Aligo Youth Development Association, one of the groups supported by AFCE under the one-year project. It has also established a hatchery a few meters away from Amazu’s home. One of the biggest benefits of being part of the group has been the involvement in the savings group.
“We used not to save, and all the money was spent as soon as we got it, but through the group, we are now saving,” he adds.
Saving has a ripple effect on Amazu’s finances and allowed him and his family to diversify their income with the recent purchase of piglets, which he hopes will allow him to delve into piggery.
“From my savings from the sale of eggs, we were able to buy five piglets, and if it goes well, it will bring us much more money,” he says.
While the benefits of the birds are visible in Amazu’s life, the poultry-keeping venture hasn’t been without its challenges.
"We've had a few of our birds die from bird disease," Amazu says.” but we've been able to keep a bigger number alive due to the training in how to observe hygiene in the chicken pens and also isolate and separate sick birds to prevent them from spreading disease."
With support from NORAD, the project continues to support ten farmer groups within the Odupi sub-county who benefit from birds, feeds, and seeds, along with the necessary training to carry out poultry farming.
By Ivan Aboga Rackara | Communications Trainee
